A method of producing a tire tread with lugs; the tread having a tread base, and a number of lugs projecting upwards from the tread base; and the method including the steps of: preparing a green-rubber blank tread thinner at the sides and thicker at the center to define a raised center portion; applying green-rubber blocks to the areas of the blank tread where the lugs are to be formed, which blocks rest centrally against the raised center portion; and curing the blank tread, together with the blocks, in a curing mold negatively reproducing the pattern of the tread.

The tire has a tread with a tread surface and at least one groove which has a bottom wall and two lateral walls. At least one flexible wall is arranged in the groove in such a way that as liquid flows, the flexible wall flexes to allow the liquid to pass. After molding, the tire has a connecting element with a thickness which is equal to that of the bottom wall so that, after vulcanizing, the connecting element connects the lateral walls to the bottom wall over a given depth. The connecting element is then cut at its junction with each of the lateral walls of the groove so as to obtain the flexible wall.

The tire has a tread with a tread surface and at least one groove which has a bottom wall and two lateral walls. At least one flexible wall is arranged in the groove in such a way that as liquid flows, the flexible wall flexes to allow the liquid to pass. After molding, the tire has a connecting element with a thickness which is equal to that of the bottom wall so that, after vulcanizing, the connecting element connects the lateral walls to the bottom wall over a given depth. The connecting element is then cut at its junction with each of the lateral walls of the groove so as to obtain the flexible wall.

A process for molding a tire elastomeric thermoplastic composite comprises a stage in which a layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is applied against one of the faces of the composite, followed by a molding stage for vulcanization of the composite and crosslinking of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with the neighboring layer of rubber material. The process furthermore comprises a stage consisting in applying a nonstick protective layer (12) against the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) face intended to be in contact with the mold.

A process for molding a tire elastomeric thermoplastic composite comprises a stage in which a layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is applied against one of the faces of the composite, followed by a molding stage for vulcanization of the composite and crosslinking of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with the neighboring layer of rubber material. The process furthermore comprises a stage consisting in applying a nonstick protective layer (12) against the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) face intended to be in contact with the mold.

The needle (12) of the device for inserting a wire into a tire has: a piercing zone (18) having an axis of symmetry, and a duct (30) having a proximal opening and a distal opening (36) opening into the zone (18) and off-center relative to the axis, the duct consisting of the proximal opening and of a rectilinear profiled section including the distal opening.

The needle (12) of the device for inserting a wire into a tire has: a piercing zone (18) having an axis of symmetry, and a duct (30) having a proximal opening and a distal opening (36) opening into the zone (18) and off-center relative to the axis, the duct consisting of the proximal opening and of a rectilinear profiled section including the distal opening.

A layer of cellular material forms a running layer (14A) of a tread (14) in which tread pattern elements (20, 22, 26) are made. In order to form the cellular material, an uncured blank is provided with a mass of material comprising p,p-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) that forms a pore-forming agent. The uncured blank is placed in a vulcanization mold (28) comprising molding elements (30, 32, 34). At least 95% of the molding elements (30, 32, 34) each satisfy the following two conditions: a) the molding element (30, 32, 34) is separated from at least one other molding element (30, 32, 34) by a distance, expressed in millimeters, of less than or equal to
DM=6.85+0.0065T3, T, greater than or equal to 3 phr, being the amount of p,p-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) in the mass of material intended to form the cellular material, b) the molding element (30, 32, 34) is intended to form a tread pattern element (20, 22, 26) having a depth at least equal to 80% of the thickness of the running layer (14A).

A layer of cellular material forms a running layer (14A) of a tread (14) in which tread pattern elements (20, 22, 26) are made. In order to form the cellular material, an uncured blank is provided with a mass of material comprising p,p-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) that forms a pore-forming agent. The uncured blank is placed in a vulcanization mold (28) comprising molding elements (30, 32, 34). At least 95% of the molding elements (30, 32, 34) each satisfy the following two conditions: a) the molding element (30, 32, 34) is separated from at least one other molding element (30, 32, 34) by a distance, expressed in millimeters, of less than or equal to
DM=6.85+0.0065T3, T, greater than or equal to 3 phr, being the amount of p,p-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) in the mass of material intended to form the cellular material, b) the molding element (30, 32, 34) is intended to form a tread pattern element (20, 22, 26) having a depth at least equal to 80% of the thickness of the running layer (14A).

The disclosure provides for a process for manufacturing a tread molding element configured to mold at least a portion of a tire tread, the process comprising the following successive steps of providing a first tread molding element that can be a 3D-printed element made of a plastic composition A; forming a reverse mold of the first tread molding element, wherein the reverse mold is made of a plastic composition B comprising one or more elastomers; heating the reverse mold to a temperature above 50 C. when the first tread molding element is a 3D-printed element made of a plastic composition A; and casting a second tread molding element from the reverse mold to obtain a second tread molding element; wherein the second tread molding element is made from a plastic composition C comprising one or more thermosetting resins.